The Catechetical Lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem, delivered around 348 CE, are a series of instructional addresses to catechumens preparing for baptism and to the newly baptized. Comprising eighteen pre-baptismal lectures and five Mystagogical Catecheses, they offer a detailed exposition of Christian doctrine and liturgical practice in the fourth-century Church. Cyril explains the Creed line by line, emphasizing faith, repentance, the sacraments, and moral transformation. His vivid teaching style combines theological precision with pastoral warmth, seeking to form both the minds and hearts of new believers. The Mystagogical Catecheses, given after Easter, unveil the deeper meanings of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist, revealing how the sacraments communicate divine grace. These lectures are a vital source for understanding early Christian catechesis, liturgy, and theology in Jerusalem, reflecting a transitional period when Christianity was defining its creeds and ritual life within an increasingly established Church.
This is a modern English edition of the 19th century translation by Edwin Hamilton Gifford, produced by Father Peter Farrington with an introduction describing the life and works of Cyril of Jerusalem., Patristics, Catechesis, Orthodox, , Peter Farrington| | 292PAGES